Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Welterweight
Feb 6, 2008
WELTERWEIGHT (170-155)
1. Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) (15-2-0)
GSP has the top spot in these rankings but not the UFC 170-pound championship. In order to hold his place and regain the UFC championship, St. Pierre will need to defeat Matt Serra (Pictures) in their rematch April 19. If nothing else, he will have a raucous, partisan crowd behind him, as the two do battle in Montreal's Bell Centre.
2. Matt
Serra (Pictures) (9-4-0)
Serra's chance at an epic year was erased when he was forced to pull out of his slated Dec. 29 title defense against Matt Hughes (Pictures). Then GSP stepped in and destroyed Hughes. However, Serra still owns the UFC welterweight title, and as soon as he's ready to go, he'll have the chance to prove lightning can strike twice.
3. Matt Hughes (Pictures) (41-6-0)
The sport's most celebrated welterweight is nearing the end. Hughes was completely destroyed by Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) in their rubber match on Dec. 29. With only a couple of fights left, it will be interesting to see what Zuffa proposes for the former champ before his retirement.
Fitch, who openly states he wants to face top opposition no matter the challenge, got his wish with veteran Akihiro Gono (Pictures). However, when a broken hand forced Gono from their March 1 bout, Fitch didn't have to go slumming for an opponent. Now he will face tough Team Quest product Chris Wilson, who has recently taken wins over the likes of Derrick Noble (Pictures), Rory Markham (Pictures) and Jay Hieron (Pictures).
5. Josh Koscheck (Pictures) (9-2-0)
After wanting to get back into action as soon as possible following his loss to St. Pierre in August, Koscheck will finally make his return March 1. He will find opposition in submission-savvy upstart Dustin Hazelett (Pictures), who rides a three-bout win streak into their bout.
6. Diego Sanchez (Pictures) (17-2-0)
Sanchez has opted to stay at 170 pounds following losses to Koscheck and Fitch. His road to recovery in the 170-pound class starts March 1, when he'll meet Swedish standout David Bielkheden (Pictures).
7. Karo Parisyan (Pictures) (18-4-0)
If Parisyan wanted an easy bout to ensure a better chance at getting a UFC title shot, he sure didn't get it. Instead, the Armenian will meet Brazilian dynamo Thiago Alves (Pictures) in what could be an early fight of the year candidate on the televised main card of the stacked April 2 Ultimate Fight Night card.
8. Jake Shields (Pictures) (20-4-1)
With free agency looming, Shields inked a long-term deal with ProElite and then quickly dispatched of a quality opponent in Mike Pyle (Pictures). The next stop for Shields is an EliteXC title match versus battle-tested welterweight Drew Fickett (Pictures) on March 29.
9. Shinya Aoki (Pictures) (12-2-0)
Aoki's tougher-than-expected Dec. 31 bout against South Korean silver medal judoka Bu Kyung Jung (Pictures) took place at 154 pounds, where he figures to spend more of his time. However, Aoki's résumé as a welterweight is still sterling, and he should return to the division to defend his Shooto world title at 168 pounds in early 2008.
10. Carlos Condit (Pictures) (21-4-0)
The exciting up-and-coming Condit will get the star treatment as he puts his WEC title on the line Feb. 13. He gets the chance to avenge the first loss of his career against Carlo Prater (Pictures) in front of a partisan crowd in Condit's native New Mexico, where their first bout took place in September 2004. Best of all, it's on cable TV.
1. Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) (15-2-0)
GSP has the top spot in these rankings but not the UFC 170-pound championship. In order to hold his place and regain the UFC championship, St. Pierre will need to defeat Matt Serra (Pictures) in their rematch April 19. If nothing else, he will have a raucous, partisan crowd behind him, as the two do battle in Montreal's Bell Centre.
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Serra's chance at an epic year was erased when he was forced to pull out of his slated Dec. 29 title defense against Matt Hughes (Pictures). Then GSP stepped in and destroyed Hughes. However, Serra still owns the UFC welterweight title, and as soon as he's ready to go, he'll have the chance to prove lightning can strike twice.
3. Matt Hughes (Pictures) (41-6-0)
The sport's most celebrated welterweight is nearing the end. Hughes was completely destroyed by Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) in their rubber match on Dec. 29. With only a couple of fights left, it will be interesting to see what Zuffa proposes for the former champ before his retirement.
4. Jon
Fitch (Pictures) (15-2-0, 1 NC)
Fitch, who openly states he wants to face top opposition no matter the challenge, got his wish with veteran Akihiro Gono (Pictures). However, when a broken hand forced Gono from their March 1 bout, Fitch didn't have to go slumming for an opponent. Now he will face tough Team Quest product Chris Wilson, who has recently taken wins over the likes of Derrick Noble (Pictures), Rory Markham (Pictures) and Jay Hieron (Pictures).
5. Josh Koscheck (Pictures) (9-2-0)
After wanting to get back into action as soon as possible following his loss to St. Pierre in August, Koscheck will finally make his return March 1. He will find opposition in submission-savvy upstart Dustin Hazelett (Pictures), who rides a three-bout win streak into their bout.
6. Diego Sanchez (Pictures) (17-2-0)
Sanchez has opted to stay at 170 pounds following losses to Koscheck and Fitch. His road to recovery in the 170-pound class starts March 1, when he'll meet Swedish standout David Bielkheden (Pictures).
7. Karo Parisyan (Pictures) (18-4-0)
If Parisyan wanted an easy bout to ensure a better chance at getting a UFC title shot, he sure didn't get it. Instead, the Armenian will meet Brazilian dynamo Thiago Alves (Pictures) in what could be an early fight of the year candidate on the televised main card of the stacked April 2 Ultimate Fight Night card.
8. Jake Shields (Pictures) (20-4-1)
With free agency looming, Shields inked a long-term deal with ProElite and then quickly dispatched of a quality opponent in Mike Pyle (Pictures). The next stop for Shields is an EliteXC title match versus battle-tested welterweight Drew Fickett (Pictures) on March 29.
9. Shinya Aoki (Pictures) (12-2-0)
Aoki's tougher-than-expected Dec. 31 bout against South Korean silver medal judoka Bu Kyung Jung (Pictures) took place at 154 pounds, where he figures to spend more of his time. However, Aoki's résumé as a welterweight is still sterling, and he should return to the division to defend his Shooto world title at 168 pounds in early 2008.
10. Carlos Condit (Pictures) (21-4-0)
The exciting up-and-coming Condit will get the star treatment as he puts his WEC title on the line Feb. 13. He gets the chance to avenge the first loss of his career against Carlo Prater (Pictures) in front of a partisan crowd in Condit's native New Mexico, where their first bout took place in September 2004. Best of all, it's on cable TV.
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